, 1887-04-07
4 CHAT WITH STANFORD.
THE RICHEST SENATOR AND HIS
HOME AT WASHINGTON.
How Its Owner Acts and TalkS-IiiS Uni
versity and Its POssibiIities-Why STAN
ford Went to California-His Remin-
isCcnces of President Lincoln.
Especial CorrespondeRce.l

isCcnCes of President Lincoln.
Especial Correspondence.l
WASHINGTON, Feb. 81.
I called upon Senator Leland Stanford, Of
California, last night. He lives in a big
white stone house in the heart Of fashionable
Washington. 1t is within four or five squares
OF the White House, and the big mansion of
the British legation is about as far distant in
the opposite direction. The house faces Far
ragut square, with its bronze statue of the
motel admiral, and it adjoins the house occu-
pied by the millionaire congressman, Scott,
of Pennsylvania. Stanford is by all odds the
richest man in the senate. Scott is the rich
est man i'll the house of representatives, and
thus these two richest men live side by siIe
Scott, however, is put down at Sl2, 100000,
while Stanford has been estimated as high
as six times this amount
Senator Stanford's Washington home Is a
magnificent one, but It is by no means the fin
est at the capital Its front door is reached
by wide steps and n generous vestlbule ad-
mits YOU to hall Of ike proportions. Large
pari0gs open into this hallway, and Stairways
with broad steps and with several landings
lead TO a second story. The furnishing of the
hall is very rich, and the portieres leading
into the parlor are of japanese silk richly
embroidered. The parlor is big enough for a
city council chamber. 1t is divided in half
by a rich Japanese portiere and it is lighted
with chandeliers and lamps of carved brass.
Beautiful pictures, which Senator Stanford
has picked up here and there over the world,
hang upon the wall, and all the surroundings
are those of culture and beauty There is no
attempt at an extravagant display of wealth,
though the furniture is of the richest and
best. It is selected with good taste, and it
looSs is though its owners were accustomed
to use it. 1t has connected with its beauty
and richness an air of home like, every day
friendIiness about it, the which you better ap-
preciate when you come into contact with
Senator Stanford himself.
Senator Stanford is the example OF a mil
Honaire whom riches have not spoiled He is
as plain IL his manners and as democratic in
his views as he was when as a young lawyer
he made his first fight for fortune in a Wis
consin village. There is nothing snobbish
about him You feel that he is gentleman
and that Ire considers yoa one. He is man
of broad views, Of wide reading and extend
ed travel He talks well, is interested in all
public matters AMI has an opinion on most
of them. e.
chatted with him about his new uniyer-
sity, and he grew enthusiastic in talking
abouti its possibilities. He is anxious that his
fortune should accomplish some good in this
Ef9g-lf ryl1 ha
working after his death He told me that the
provisions Of the university were such that he
thought it would have n good income for
many years to come. The bcquest is so word
ed that the income of the larre extent of land
surrounding it is to be devoted to it alone.
and so that the lands cannot be sold. Its
ownership is perpetuated in the university as
far as II Is possible to vest such rights in this
country.
The lani which Senator Stanford gives to
this university is noted for its fertility. and it
has q reservoir which will supply 100000
gallons OF water daily throughout the wear
even if there is no rain fall This will insure
the thorough irrigation of the land during all
seas"ns, and it viii probably be the model
farming land of California \ town Will
grow up il connection with the university.
and it is Senator Stanford's idea to give such
stu as desire it all the facilities for n
cola pete agricultural education.
80
The scheme of the university is not entirely
formulated as yet, but the ground will be
broken for the buildings next spring, and the
plans are now being made. The buiIdfnrs
VIII be Of one story, well up from the ground
and the present intention is TO have a run,ber
OF arcades like those of Turin or Paris, run
ming from one part of the university TO tn,
other. Everything will be of the most sub
stantial nature and approved character, and
the buildings Will be erected with the iG.a
that they are to last for geuor7- ions Senator
Stanford told me that l,e wish Il to furnish n
complete educational system and that there
would probably be two divisions, an arag-
envy or preparatory school, aul tine Cu,'rra
proper. 1t Is his "a to make no dis
tin"tion between the professors OF IL. n,.,r my
ami the college; that is he does not VISA the
professors OF one TO feel that thy have d
higher rank than those of the other. The
co!:"se Will have complete mechanical and
chemical laboratories Il will have the b-.t
professors that can be secured, and it VIII
furnish education at a very moderate cost.
-.
Senator Stanford does n3t believe that it
would be wise TO furnish e',acat- aI al an
tages for nothing. He says: That which
costs nothing IS estimated as hcins worth
nothing and he bel YES there is su-S p
thing rs educating ch,..ira1 to be pa,,..e.g-s.
He tells mo there viii probably be SON, ,lro
vision for the education of neelv CHI On
who eithc" through their fathers OF l. NJ
selves are deserving of aSSis51il.-,. but he sqys
the rue viii be to put the tu.. IDu and boa~I
50 low that almost any one can pay it. sad
he: The actual neces~iiiaS of lie cost bl.5
little, and 1t Is the mir. :l,t,ls which count
II man or boy chooses to eat that which i
noGriShiug and good he can get it for very
small sum, and my idea is that board could
he furnished amid the rich farming facilitit-,
which viii surround tbs university at the